Motion Picture Herald (Dec 1932 - Mar 1933)

36 MOTION PICTURE HERALD March II, 1933 acquired in "Delicious." "Tess". is okay, but not big Played Feb. 17-18.— S. H. Rich. Rich Theatre. Montpelier. Idaho. Family patronaRe. TESS OF THE STORM COUNTRY: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell— A number of good comments and a fair crowd. Cold weather hurt our attendance but the picture deserves extra billinR and a Rood spot. It really pleases and they don't hesitate to break the news.— Mayme P. Musselman. Princess Theatre. Lincoln. Kan. Small town patronaRe. TESS OF THE STORM COUNTRY: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell— Compares very favorable with the old Mary Pickford silent version. It is all that one could desire from this story. Some critics seem to think that this story is worn out hokum, but our patrons did not think so. There is a little monkey in this picture that deserves special mention. It adds a comedy touch that is highly enjoyable. You can play this any day of the week and Ret behind it in a biR way. We had the best Sunday and Monday with this in a long time.-J. E. Stocker. Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. General patronaRe. TOO BUSY TO WORK: Will RoRcrs. Marian Nixon— Rogers is well liked and he had good support in Marian Nixon, but I am of the opinion that they like Bill better in a comedy role than this one. He has a certain draw at the box office, but they are used to seeing him in a wisecracking role and this one is pathos with some comedy due to the dialogue. Incidentally this picture was made before as Jubilo the First" that brought Bill to the screen.—A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City. Ind. TOO BUSY TO WORK: Will Rogers— Drew well and pleased both days. We did not have to hide when they came out. Fathers and mothers brought their children. Mr. Rogers is doing his part to keep clean screens going. Played Feb. 22-23. Running time. 70 minutes.— G. Carey. Strand Theatre. Pans. Ark. Family patronage. Majestic CRUSADER: All star— A mighty good picture. Satisfied all that saw it.— Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre. Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. HEARTS OF HUMANITY: Jean Hersholt, Jackie Searle, Claudia Dell— Don't fail to play this one. Everybody liked it. Played Sunday to good business. —Paul J. Oresic. Grace Theatre, Milwaukee. Wis. Neighborhood patronage. PHANTOM EXPRESS: Sally Blane. William Collier, Jr., J. Farrell Macdonald— A mighty good action picture. Story good and splendid cast of oldtimers. If one of the big companies had this one it would have been sold as a special.— Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. PHANTOM EXPRESS: William Collier, Jr., Sally Blane. J. Farrell Macdonald— One of the best railroad pictures produced. Played to splendid business on Sunday. Everyone well satisfied. Recording O.K. — Charles Washicheck. Pearl Theatre. Milwaukee, Wis. Neighborhood patronage. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer BLONDIE OF THE FOLLIES: Marion Davies, Robert Montgomery — We got a good letting alone on this one. We would have had just as many people out during a real blizzard as came to see this one. Fair picture but sure no draw. Running time, 90 minutes. — R. E. Falkenberg, Majestic Theatre, Lexington, Neb. Family patronage. DIVORCE IN THE FAMILY: Jackie Cooper, Lois Wilson — Once more we drew heavy with the kids but not the adults. Picture should have appealed to adults too but we couldn't make them believe us so they stayed home or elsewhere. Jackie is his usual wonderful self with Lewis Stone as great as ever. Story was above the heads of most kids too. Running time, 82 minutes. — R. E. Falkenberg, Majestic 'Theatre, Lexington, Neb. Family patronage. FAITHLESS: Robert Montgomery— Raw. The guy that picks these stories must have always lived in Hollywood. — Walt Bradley, Moon Theatre, Neligh, Neb. General patronage. FAST LIFE: William Haines — Has everything a picture should have. Entertainment and not so much action. Was a big relief. — Walt Bradley, Moon Theatre, Neligh. Neb. General patronage. FAST LIFE: William Haines, Madge Evans— A very good action picture. ClifT Edwards is very good. In fact he almost steals the show. Pleasedour small crowd. Haines just don't seem to draw here any more. Played Feb. 6-7. — Cecil Ward, Roxy Theatre, Martinsville, Va. Small town patronage. FLESH: Wallace Beery— Poor title. Poor story. Did not get them in. Pleased the men. Not for Sunday. Not the type part for Beery. Played Feb. 19-20. Running time, 75 minutes. — Walt Bradley, Moon Theatre, Neligh, Neb. General patronage. FLESH: Wallace Beery, Karen Morley— Another Beery hit. as good as "The Champ." The ending somewhat spoils the show. Business only fair. Just can't get them in on a real good picture. They sure missed a treat here. Played Feb. 20-21.— Cecil Ward. Roxy Theatre, Martinsville. Va. Small town patronage. brings forth the usual complaint— not a small town picture. Played Feb. 14-15-16.— Mrs. Elaine S. Furlong, Star Theatre, Heppner, Oregon. Small town patronage. SON DAUGHTER: Ramon Novarro, Helen Hayes— A very, very rotten picture. Why they put a great actress like Helen Hayes and an actor like Novarro in such a bad story has got us all guessing. Pay for it and dump it. You will make money. Our worst business in months. Played Feb. 13-14.— Cecil Ward, Roxy Theatre, Martinsville, Va. Small town patronage. WHAT! NO BEER7: Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante—A great disappointment to the patrons. Not much comedy. Not much business. Not much story. Durante "bellowed" from start to finish and nothing could stop him. Running time, 60 minutes.— R. W. Hickman, Lyric Theatre. Greenville, 111. General patronage. Monogram LUCKY LARRIGAN: Rex Bell— A good western. This star is a comer. — Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. YOUNG BLOOD: Bob Steele— Not much of a western. His worst we have played. Played Feb. 18.— Cecil Ward, Roxy Theatre, Martinsville. Va. Small town patronage. Paramount THE BIG BROADCAST: All star— Perfect entertainment for these days of depression or any other days. Highbrow critics may not include this among the year's ten best but from our honest to goodness entertainment standpoint this should head the list. The recording in this is almost perfect. Recording as fine as this should help to bring musicals back in a big way. Business on this good considering the Michigan bank holiday. — J. E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood patronage. THE BIG BROADCAST: Radio stars— This one will cure that sick box office. Paramount gave us a real show in this one. Audience delighted. Girls r^ved about Bing Crosby, saying wasn't he just deliciously luscious, how he could do this and how he could do that, but Stuart Erwin stole the picture. This is a fast coming boy and did you notice how much he resembles Will Rogers. Get on this picture.' It gets the grapes. Everything and more than you expect. — Ned Pedigo, DeLuxe Theatre, Garber, Okla. General patronage. BILLION DOLLAR SCANDAL: Robert Armstrong— I considered this as good entertainment and will please the majority but will only draw fair business. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Tlieatre, Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. EVENINGS FOR SALE: Herbert Marshall, Sari Maritza — Here's a peach of a show. Clean and clever. All four main characters are excellent. Special mention to Mary Boland. She is fine. Played Feb. 16-17. — D. E. Fitton, Lyric Theatre, Harrison, Ark. Small town patronage. HE LEARNED ABOUT WOMEN: Stuart Erwin — I could write, act. direct and photograph a better picture in my sleep. Running time, 65 minutes.— Walt Bradley, Moon Theatre, Neligh. Neb. General P;atronage. HE LEARNED ABOUT WOMEN: Stuart Erwin: —Just fair and not as many laughs as they would have you to believe or promised. Ran as an owl show and they couldn't kick because we didn't charge them any extra. Played Feb. 25. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre. Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. HELLO', EVERYBODY: Kate Smith— I hear this one died badly in the big spots. However while we did not clean up on it I'll say it satisfied all our patrons. Paramount, knowing Kate Smith's limitations, very cleverly built a story to suit her and it went over nicely with us. Played Feb. 12. — ^Joe Hewitt, Lincoln Theatre, Robinson, 111. Mixed patronage. HOT SATURDAY: Nancy Carroll— Good enough but can't be boosted. Ordinary program picture. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. IF I HAD A MILLION: Gary Cooper, Wynne Gibson — For some reasons this picture was not liked. Whether it was because it was a series of characters depicted with what they would do with a million dollars and not a connected story was the cause, I can't say but it flopped very badly. Then again they tore your heart out in the old woman's home sequence. It seems that they want happy pictures And while there was some small bits of comedy it did not help much. The picture is a finished production of its kind. All do fine work in their roles but it did not click and that is the proof of the pudding.—A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. IF I HAD A MILLION: All star— Here's something dififerent and should be good entertainment for the majority. Personally liked it very much and would place it above average program. However, not a special. We have had some say it was great. Others did not care for it. You can't please all. Played Feb. 19-20.— D. E. Fitton, Lyric Theatre, Harrison, Ark. Small town patronage. In my opinion the poorest picture from Paramount this season. A hideous story in which beasts are made into humans. The makeup of the characters are terrible. How anyone can enjoy this is beyond me. No excuse for making a production of this kind. Played Feb. 10-11.— S. H. Rich, Rich Theatre. Montpelier, Idaho. Family patronage. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN: Jack Oakie, Marion Nixon — From every angle .a fine audience picture. You really see something. It strikes you deep if you have been around any or if you like sports. Story is grand and plenty of everything. Thanks, Paramount, for this good show. — Ned Pedigo, DeLuxe Theatre, Garber, Okla. General patronage. NIGHT AFTER NIGHT: George Raft— A very good picture with plenty of good actors. Mae West is a knockout with Alison Skipworth doing very well. It built up on the second night and ain't that something. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. NO MAN OF HER OWN: Clark Gable— My first picture with Gable and to be frank I'm disappointed in him. A few of the ladies think he is "just wonderful," but I said a "few." The picture is fairly good, but did less than average business for me. The men folks did not care for it, but the ladies said "lovely." — S. H. Rich. Rich Theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. Family patronage. SHE DONE HIM WRONG: Mae West— A story of "Ye Olden Times" and a very interesting picture, Mae West is wonderful as a bad baby who gets her men. Cary Grant is very good also.— Cecil Ward, Roxy Theatre. Martinsville, Va. Small town patronage. TONIGHT IS OURS: Claudette Colbert, Fredric March — This combination of stars should draw extra business in any theatre. But under present conditions nothing seems to do it. A finely produced and well acted picture. Ladies especially will like it. Beautiful settings, music and clothes. Played Feb. 16-17. Running time, 65 minutes. — R^ W. Hickman, Lyric Tlieatre, Greenville, III. General patronage. THE WOMAN ACCUSED: Cary Grant, Nancy Carroll — Looks like ten more famous authors could not save this and as a draw it just wasn't. No kicks, but no raves. Just fair. Cast was good and direction good with what was offered to work with. The horsewhipping scene at the finish, while of 1910 vintage, was good. Played Feb. 19. — Joe Hewitt, Lincoln Theatre, Robinson, 111. Mixed patronage. RKO GRAND HOTEL: All star-Drew fair crowds but ISLAND OF LOST SOULS: Charles Laughton COME ON DANGER: Tom Keene— Extra good western, well made and directed, good cast. Fair business for these times. Played Feb. 21-22. — Roy W. Adams, Mason 'Theatre, Mason, Mich. Small town patronage. THE CONQUERORS: Ann Harding, Richard Dix — A. few who never come were out for this one on the second night. Weather still very cold and snowy but the Sunday crowd was larger than the few preceding. Lots of favorable comments came in. Played Feb. 12-13.— Mrs. Elaine S. Furlong, Star Theatre, Heppner, Oregon. Small town patronage. GHOST VALLEY: Tom Keene— Usual draw and mystery mixed in with western story. Running time, 60 minutes. — ^R. E. Falkenberg, Majestic Theatre, Lexington, Neb. Family patronage. HELL'S HIGHWAY: Richard Dix— Fine entertainment for a prison story. Gave good satisfaction to those that like this kind of pictures. "The star always good. — Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. HOLD 'EM JAIL: Wheeler & Woolsey— This picture is simply filled with real laughs. Fast comedy that gets over. A wow good for the blues. You can't go too strong on this. It is the big laugh show. — Ned Pedigo, DeLuxe Theatre, Garber Okla. General patronage. THE LOST SQUADRON: Richard Dix, Ann Harding— An air story supreme. (Due to the good opinion previously stated in this section.) I went after this heavy. Every one was delighted. Played Feb. 2-3-4. —V. W. Fisk, Blue Water Theatre, Kincardine, Ont., Can. Small town patronage. THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME: Joel McCrea, Leslie Banks — It would be impossible to make a more horrifying picture. Some liked it. Some did not, but if you want thrills this has 'em. Played Feb. 23-24.— Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. THE HALF-NAKED TRUTH: Lee Tracy— Fair.— R. W. Fletcher, Lyric Theatre, Hartington, Neb. General patronage. THE SPORT PARADE: This one runs fifty-four minutes, and a lot of the shots look like newsreel shots. It's a fairly good little picture of sport events with a rather nice little love story. You can get it by on a week night or for double program. Played Feb. 24. Running, time, 54 minutes.— S. M. Farrar, Orpheum Tlieatre, Harrisburg, 111. Small city patronage. STRANGE JUSTICE: Marian Marsh, Reginald Denny — Just a program picture, suitable for your double program or low admission night. This one did not draw or please. RKO is giving us a lot of weak box office pictures this year. It would seem that they have lost the knack of turning out good